condor

Where does the word "condor" come from? It comes from Quechua kuntur, passing through Spanish before entering English (1600s-1700s).

Condor’s story begins in Quechua: kuntur meant “condor.” The Quechua name for the great Andean bird. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as cóndor. Adopted after Spanish contact with the Andes. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as condor. The Andean condor is a national symbol of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. Today, condor means a very large vulture native to the Andes Mountains.

1. Stage 1 · Quechua · pre-1500s kuntur "condor", the Quechua name for the great Andean bird.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1600s cóndor "condor", adopted after Spanish contact with the Andes.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s-1700s condor "the large Andean vulture", the Andean condor is a national symbol of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador.